NEW SILVER CORD PROGRAM RECOGNIZES GRADUATES FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE

The new Silver Cord of Service Program, announced via the Clipper Compass on Jan. 30, is now available to all graduating seniors in class of 2026 and beyond to participate in at Clear Creek Amana High School. The Silver Cord Program recognizes seniors by awarding them their Silver Cord during Senior Awards Day. Graduates will wear the cord during the graduation ceremony and will be recognized in the commencement program, representing their devotion to community service and volunteerism. 

GRADUATED SENIOR MEIRA CROZIER WALKING THE STAGE WHILE PROUDLY DISPLAYING HER CORDS; PHOTO BY SHAUNTAI BURTON

“We recently introduced students to our newly launched Silver Cord Program, which recognizes students who go above and beyond in serving our community,” said CCAHS Principal Thomas Daniel in his personal message in the CCAHS newsletter. “This program honors meaningful service, leadership, and dedication, and we are proud of the many students who are already making a positive impact through their commitment to others.”

Students must meet the required number of hours to earn the silver cord and be recognized. Due to the program being launched starting just this year, the amount of hours required is adjusted based on their graduation year “to provide equal opportunities to all current CCA high school students.” 

Class of 2026 will be required to have 40 total hours of service. Class of 2027 needs 80 hours, class of 2028 needs 120 hours, and class of 2029 and beyond need 160 hours. Averaging 40 hours of service each year of high school is advised to students interested in participating in the program to ensure eligibility. 

Hours of service that count towards the silver cord are to be separate from required hours of community service for other organizations such as National Honor Society or Future Farmers of America. So students can not “double count” service hours.

Senior Mackenzie Burnett plans on participating in the Silver Cord Program. “I believe that the program really advocates for spending time in your community, and learning how to be selfless and prioritize others over yourself,” Burnett said. 

Service hours for the program start Aug. 1 of a student’s freshman year and count through April 30 of their senior year. Students can get volunteer hours over the summer and need to submit summer hours after the volunteering is completed by Sep. 15 of the following school year. 

All Silver Cord Award forms for freshmen, sophomores, and juniors must be turned in by May 30 of the current year to count towards the required hours for that year. Seniors need to turn in their forms by April 30 to count towards graduation recognition. Students are responsible for documenting and submitting their hours on time as it is a self-directed program. There is an online form for documenting hours that was emailed to students by Assistant Principal Robert Hruby on Jan. 23.

Acceptable service activities are defined by meeting a clear need for a nonprofit organization or government agency. Hours are to be supervised by an adult unrelated to the student that can verify the service hours. 

For each year, students are able to count a maximum of 10 of their 40 service hours as community service in their own neighborhood such as helping neighbors shovel snow, rake leaves, or mow lawns. Hruby says that if students plan on doing this, they should email and communicate with him so he can approve those hours.

Additional Silver Cord of Service information can be found in a pdf which was emailed to students on Jan. 22 by Hruby. Students who submit service hours for the program can check in with Hruby to see their progress towards the required number of hours.